Top DOJ officials in Birmingham Monday to talk immigration

WASHINGTON -- Two officials with the U.S. Department of Justice will meet in Birmingham on Monday with business and community leaders about the impact of Alabama's immigration law.

The two sessions are private, and the names of the Alabama people who are attending was not disclosed today. The Justice Department officials traveling to Alabama are Assistant Attorneys General Tony West of the civil division and Thomas Perez of the civil rights division. U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance of the Northern District of Alabama also will participate.

The Justice Department has sued to block implementation of Alabama's immigration law, and Perez has said the agency is investigating whether the law also is causing civil rights violations in education, housing, employment and other areas.